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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. GORMAN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

CLASP-ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming pal t of Letters Patent No. 576,783, dated February 9, 1897.

Application filed September 14,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. GoRMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olasp-Envelops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the-art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In United States Patent No. 222,394, granted to me December 9,1879, I have shown and described a clasp-envelop for containing samples or other matter to be transmitted through the mail in which the two opposite ends of the envelop are left open, with a sealing-flap at each end, one of which is gummed upon its inner surface and adapted tobe moistened and pasted to the back of the envelop after the sample has been inserted into the same and the other is provided with a reinforced or eyeleted opening through which the nibs or prongs of a metallic clasp are adapted to be passed, the head of said clasp being held in place by the loose outer end of the back of the envelop. Objection has been found to this envelop by reason of the fact that the metallic clasp, which is usually made of soft brass in the form of an ordinary paper-fastener, is free to turn in its bearings and thus weaken the envelop at the point where the greatest strength is required. In order to overcome this objection, I have devised an improved form of clasp-envelop in which all of the parts, except the sealing-flap, are securedtogether when the same is manufactured, and in which the metallic clasp is held securely in place and prevented from turning by means of a disk of paper pasted to both parts of the material of which the back is made adjacent to the head of the metallic clasp.

The invention also consists in other details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a rear View of an envelop constructed according to my invention with the sealing or clasping flap thereof shown open in full lines and closed in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view of the inner surface of the back of the envelop, showing the secur- 1896. Serial No. 606,774. (No model.)

ing-disk for the metal clasp in place. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the envelop on the line a; a; of Fig. 1.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The envelop 1 may be constructed of Manila or other suitable tough paper, with the side flaps 2 and 3, constituting the back of the envelop, sealed along their adjacent edges throughout their entire length and the bottom flap 4 sealed to the outer surface of the two side flaps 2 and 3. The sealing-flap 5 has a reinforced or eyeleted portion 6 therein through which the prongs or nibs 7 7 of the 'metallic clasp 8 are adapted to be passed.

The said clasp S is preferably constructed of soft brass in the form of an ordinary paperfastener, witha head 9 thereon to which the nibs or prongs 7 7 are secured or integrally formed. The said clasp 8 is passed through the outer end of the side flap 3 at a point adjacent to the sealing-flap 5 and is held securely in place and prevented from turning or lateral displacement by means of a disk 10, of tough paper, which is located between the head 9 and the inner surface of the side flap 3, being also pasted to said side flap 3 and to the outer surface of the side flap 2. WVhen said disk is thus applied, it is impossible for the clasp 8 to turn in its bearings, and the envelop is consequently greatly strengthened at its point of connection with said clasp.

In the envelop described in the patent referred to the flap 5 was originally held in its closed position and the flap 4 left open when the envelop came from the factory. The samples or other matter to be placed on the inside of the envelop were inserted through the opening adjacent to the flap 4:, and said flap afterward sealed in place by moistening the gummed portions thereof. In order to remove the contents of the envelop, the prongs or nibs of the clasp 8 were compressed, permitting them to be drawn rearwardly through the reinforced opening in the sealing-flap 5. This was done to prevent the too frequent opening and closing of the flap 5, by reason of the fact that the envelop was weaker at the point of connection of the clasp than at any other point.

By my present invention the envelop is closed at all points except at the end adjacent to the flap 5. The samples or other articles are therefore inserted at that point, and the envelop can be opened or closed as many times as may be desired without danger of further weakening or wearing the same.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An envelop, having a metallic pronged fastening device or clasp embodied in and projecting from the back thereof, the head thereof being located between the two folds of material constitutingsaid back, and a disk of tough paper or other suitable material located between said head and the outer fold of material and pasted or otherwise fastened to the adjacent surfaces of both folds of material.

2. An envelop, closed at all points except at one end, having a sealing-flap adapted to close its open end and provided with a reinforcing or eyeleted opening therein, a mei tallic clasp or fastening device made up of a head with two bendable nibs or prongs secured thereto or formed integral therewith, the head of said clasp being located between the two folds of material of which the back of said envelop is made and the nibs or prongs thereof adapted to be passed through the eyeleted opening in said sealing-flap, and a disk of tough paper or other suitable material surrounding said nibs or prongs adjacent to said head, located between said head and the inner surface of the outer fold of material constituting said back and pasted or otherwise secured to the adjacent surfaces of both folds of material, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. GORMAN.

Witnesses:

M. FRIEDSAM, TM. A. FINN. 

